As it happened: 2010 Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300

• 00:30

  Hello my IndyCar friends!

• 00:30

  This IZOD stuff is a bit addictive, isn't it? I covered a road course at Sonoma, so it seemed only fair to give an oval a bit of FBFB love as well.

• 00:32

  The green flag is scheduled for 6:50pm local time, which is in about twenty minutes.

• 00:32

  It is 200 laps of the Chicagoland Speedway.

• 00:33

  We are live commenting the race here: https://sidepodcast.com/2010/08/28/2010-indycar-300km-race-of-chicagoland-round-14/ You must join us.

• 00:33

  Briscoe lines up on pole position, followed by Franchitti and Power.

• 00:34

  Danica Patrick is back on her preferred turf of oval circuits, and she qualified up in 12th.

• 00:34

  Simona de Silvestro ended up behind Milka Duno - the pair 27th and 26th respectively.

• 00:34

  Other people I've heard of: Sato qualified 10th, Baguette in 20th, and Justin Wilson down in 23rd.

• 00:36

  Earlier I asked for predictions, here are some of them.

• 00:37

  Comment from Leigh: I'm predicting a win for Franchitti. Power is OK on the ovals, but he hasn't fully adapted to them yet - it could be where his lead in the championship begins to diminish

• 00:37

  Comment from RG: Hunter-Reay for the win.

• 00:38

  Comment from Joe in Fla: Fingers crossed for Simona, but the ovals have abused her this year. But she's strong and smart...there's a chance for a top 10

• 00:43

  The dedicated fans are there, but there's concern about the number of empty seats in the grandstands.

• 00:44

  Comment from Jeremy (he might be Australian): I predict a win in the nationwide series in Montreal for Aussie Macros Ambrose, and a win for Aussie Ryan Briscoe in Chicagoland. Aussie Mark Webber will win in Spa to complete the trifecta

• 00:46

  Drivers have started their engines. I didn't hear the call, but they clearly did.

• 00:47

  A two-seater with ensconced competition winner leads off the pack as they head off on their initial laps.

• 00:50 Lap 1

  And they're off!

• 00:51 Lap 1

  Hard to tell when the race actually begins. Silly rolling starts.

• 00:52 Lap 3

  Briscoe made a great start and leads them through the first few laps.

• 00:53 Lap 5

  Accident between Scheckter and maybe Matos?

• 00:53 Lap 5

  There's a tyre in the middle of the racing line.

• 00:54 Lap 6

  Alex Lloyd looks like he is also involved - but will be able to continue with new tyres.

• 00:56 Lap 7

  I just noticed that Will Power fell back to 9th position - a bad start for him.

• 00:58 Lap 8

  One of the cars (Matos?) is recovered.

• 00:58 Lap 9

  This car (not Matos) was right in the way.

• 01:00 Lap 10

  Driver Positions

  1	Briscoe	--
  2	Andretti	+0.2928
  3	Franchitti	+0.7166
  4	Castroneves	+0.6357
  5	Wheldon	+0.3707

• 01:01 Lap 11

  Live from the car, Davey Hamilton reports that the low sun is blinding them into turn 3.

• 01:02 Lap 12

  Interview with Tomas Scheckter: "For someone to hit you from behind on one of these big tracks that early on, is uncalled for, but that's what you get with some of these guys."

• 01:04 Lap 13

  Track is clear.

• 01:04 Lap 13

  Actually, I might have been a bit previous with that green flag because some people were overtaking under yellows.

• 01:04 Lap 13

  Their bad.

• 01:06 Lap 18

  Tweet from @IndyCarNation: de Silvestro, Lloyd, Tagliani, Wilson, Meira, Hamilton, Fisher, and Duno all pitted during the caution

• 01:07 Lap 21

  Scott Dixon apparently had his worst start since 2005 but he is on the move now, determined to make his way through the field. Currently in 7th.

• 01:09 Lap 26

  Castroneves has lost a place, down to 4th.

• 01:12 Lap 32

  Comment from Steven Roy: Danica is only 4 places behind Sato. Tighten your belts and put your helmet on

• 01:13 Lap 36

  Scott Dixon's hard work has all been undone as he has fallen back to 11th.

• 01:14 Lap 37

  Sato comes into the pits.

• 01:15 Lap 40

  Tweet from @AllenWedge: Marco officially took the lead for a lap, then Briscoe takes it back, now Andretti being pushed by Helio great battle

• 01:16 Lap 43

  Hideki Mutoh is up to 14th. Still thinking that's a great name.

• 01:17 Lap 44

  The IndyCar ticker tells me Jay Howard made a stop for throttle repair. I don't know who Jay Howard is, but he's now running last.

• 01:20 Lap 52

  Briscoe and Andretti are passing each other for the lead. Briscoe right now, but blink and it might have changed.

• 01:21 Lap 54

  Dan Wheldon has just passed Andretti - as Marco pits.

• 01:22 Lap 55

  I recognise Wheldon's car because he has RED WING MIRRORS. Grr.

• 01:22 Lap 57

  Seven cars have pitted. I can't keep up with that kind of madness. Wait a tick.

• 01:23 Lap 59

  Carpenter has pitted. He has a gold car. At least four others have pitted as well.

• 01:23 Lap 59

  Will Power takes his stop and is off cleanly.

• 01:24 Lap 61

  Helio had a slow stop because they had an issue fuelling the car - much longer than they had anticipated.

• 01:25 Lap 61

  Briscoe and Andretti are still going at it - normal service resumed, albeit slightly down the order for now.

• 01:26 Lap 64

  With pit stop shake-outs, their fight is back for first place.

• 01:26 Lap 65

  Driver Positions

  1	Briscoe	--
  2	Andretti	+0.0782
  3	Franchitti	+1.3973
  4	Dixon	+0.1149
  5	Kanaan	+0.0899

• 01:29 Lap 70

  Alex Lloyd was sixth, slowed right down and looks to be last now. Oops.

• 01:30 Lap 74

  The front battle has closed up, and whilst Andretti is still nose to tail of Briscoe, Franchitti has also narrowed the gap.

• 01:31 Lap 75

  They have reached a back marker.

• 01:32 Lap 77

  Yellow flags.

• 01:33 Lap 78

  Ana Beatriz hit the wall, hence the yellow flags. She's making her way to the pitlane.

• 01:33 Lap 78

  In IndyCar, it has had a bit of a promotion and is known as pit road.

• 01:34 Lap 80

  Every single car pits bar three.

• 01:35 Lap 81

  Hideki Mutoh left his pit box with a tyre missing, and Sato also appears to have issues in the pit lane.

• 01:37 Lap 82

  I'd just like it noted that Sarah Fisher is leading. Just cos she didn't pit, whatever.

• 01:38 Lap 83

  Comment from Steven Roy: Dario got past Andretti on that stop. How does he gain places every single time?

• 01:38 Lap 83

  Takuma Sato is out of the race.

• 01:39 Lap 84

  More from Davey Hamilton out on track: "We're just plugging away. The guys gave me a really good car. We're having fun."

• 01:40 Lap 85

  We were just about to get green flags again and bam, Tagliani hits the wall.

• 01:41 Lap 86

  Tagliani stopped in turn 3, Meira has front wing damage, whilst Mutoh has returned to the pit lane.

• 01:41 Lap 86

  Mutoh has exited the car.

• 01:41 Lap 86

  Meira has a new wing, and looks set to go out again.

• 01:42 Lap 86

  Tagliani is also out of the car.

• 01:45 Lap 89

  Interview with Sato: "After the pitstop, I exit the box, unfortunately my teammate came in and hit me. The start was good, but after the restart I had a flat tyre. After the pitstop, it's just unnecessary."

• 01:45 Lap 89

  Interview with Tagliani: "I'm proud of the team, they worked hard, then we got hit from behind"

• 01:45 Lap 90

  Track is clear.

• 01:46 Lap 90

  Comment from Kai: Funny how 1 guy says "I got hit from behind! What's up with that?" Then cut to the guy behind and he's like "I dunno what happened".

• 01:46 Lap 91

  Sarah Fisher has lost the lead. Boo.

• 01:47 Lap 94

  Dario Franchitti appears to be holding everyone up as he struggles to pass Fisher. Briscoe is pulling away.

• 01:48 Lap 95

  Around and behind Sarah, they are three wide. She's doing great, I must say, but I fear it will end in tears.

• 01:49 Lap 97

  Dario is now down in 5th, he's lost out bigtime on this restart.

• 01:50 Lap 100

  Carpenter and Andretti run three wide with Fisher trying to pass her, and as yet, no one has managed it.

• 01:50 Lap 100

  Briscoe is streaking ahead.

• 01:52 Lap 105

  Ticker tells me Alex Lloyd is re-entering the race. I bet he couldn't get past Sarah either.

• 01:54 Lap 110

  Awww, the dream is over. Sarah is down in 4th, and no doubt gonna fall back more.

• 01:55 Lap 113

  Fisher pits, finally.

• 01:58 Lap 119

  Fisher's race engineer or, erm, crew chief, or whatever, says they had this strategy planned and they are hoping for another yellow to get them back in the top ten.

• 01:59 Lap 121

  Briscoe's lead has completely evaporated and he's now being hunted by both Power and Andretti.

• 02:02 Lap 129

  Driver Positions

  1	Briscoe	--
  2	Power	+0.1287
  3	Carpenter	+0.1409
  4	Andretti	+0.0271
  5	Kanaan	+0.2664

• 02:04 Lap 133

  Tweet from @IndyCarNation: Power #12 stalking teammate Briscoe #6 by .0829 sec, but seems comfortable following for now

• 02:05 Lap 137

  Briscoe pits, followed by several other cars.

• 02:06 Lap 137

  There is always so much smoke in the pitlane. I find it concerning.

• 02:07 Lap 141

  Moraes has been "tagged" for speeding in the pit lane. Tag, you're it.

• 02:08 Lap 141

  Power's pit stop.

• 02:09 Lap 143

  Tweet from @IndyCarNation (as pointed out by Leigh): We have had 9 different leaders in the race so far as a record for the season

• 02:09 Lap 143

  Ed Carpenter stalled his car in the pits.

• 02:09 Lap 145

  Hunter-Reay is currently running second, chasing Wheldon for the lead. Presumably they did not pit.

• 02:11 Lap 148

  Carpenter is taking a drive through, apparently for entering the pit from Turn 4. There's more than one entrance?

• 02:12 Lap 150

  Comment from Leigh: you need to join the slow lane in turn 3

• 02:13 Lap 153

  Hunter-Reay led for a millisecond, but has now fallen back to 5th. Wheldon leads.

• 02:13 Lap 153

  Silvestro has pitted, slow into the pit road, perhaps she has issues?

• 02:14 Lap 154

  Three wide for the lead right now.

• 02:16 Lap 160

  The ticker tells me: "19 lead changes it he record for the season."

• 02:16 Lap 161

  Fisher has just pitted again - this may be her final stop.

• 02:20 Lap 169

  Another caution.

• 02:21 Lap 170

  Alex Lloyd spun off into the grass.

• 02:21 Lap 171

  Ana Beatriz has apparently rejoined the race. I haven't seen her yet though.

• 02:22 Lap 171

  Not that I know what her car looks like.

• 02:23 Lap 172

  Lots and lots of pit stops. Everyone bar Hamilton, Moraes and Fisher.

• 02:25 Lap 173

  People pitting. How is anyone supposed to follow that?

• 02:25 Lap 173

  Dario Franchitti made up 8 places in the stop, he is now leading.

• 02:26 Lap 175

  Danica is up to 6th at the moment.

• 02:27 Lap 175

  Beatriz returned to the pits. I never saw her.

• 02:28 Lap 177

  Track is clear.

• 02:29 Lap 178

  Commentators just told Davey Hamilton there are 33 laps to go, when in actual fact there are just 23. 22 now. If Hamilton keeps on going after the end, we'll know why.

• 02:30 Lap 181

  That, my friends, is FOUR WIDE.

• 02:32 Lap 187

  Franchitti is holding his own in the lead.

• 02:34 Lap 189

  He did not take on new tyres in his flying pit stop, which allowed him to take the lead, but will he be able to hold it to the end?

• 02:35 Lap 193

  Davey Hamilton is stopping. Hopefully he'll get a correct lap update from his crew.

• 02:36 Lap 194

  Briscoe ran way up towards the wall, but whatever he was trying to do didn't work, and he's fallen way down the order.

• 02:36 Lap 195

  5 laps remaining.

• 02:36 Lap 195

  Power has to stop again.

• 02:38 Lap 198

  Franchitti is pulling a bit of a lead now, with two laps to go.

• 02:38 Lap 199

  Last lap.

• 02:38 Lap 200

  Dario Franchitti wins the Peak thing Indy at Chicagoland!

• 02:39 Lap 200

  Wheldon closed it right up on that final lap but was pipped across the line by Dario.

• 02:39 Lap 200

  Oh, I forgot my chequered flag! 200 laps complete.

• 02:41

  The final top ten.

  Driver Positions

  1	Franchitti	--
  2	Wheldon	+0.0423
  3	Andretti	+0.0628
  4	Hunter-Reay	+0.0580
  5	Kanaan	+0.1777
  6	Castroneves	+0.1460
  7	Wilson	+0.1085
  8	Dixon	+0.3184
  9	Meira	+0.0451
  10	Rahal	+0.0253

• 02:43

  Thanks to everyone for joining me this evening/morning. We'll be back later today with F1 - you know, that thing we're supposed to be covering.